Solid biography on an important person. ( )

This was a longtime work in the making for the author and it shows, offering an extensive biography of J Dilla from birth, going all the way through his life, and then examining how his legacy continues to impact music. The essence of how his musical contributions were pathbreaking was covered in extensive detail, in more detail than I was really prepared to follow. It is, though, an important contribution to those interested in a recent history of Detroit, as there is extensive coverage of its music scene, neighborhoods and schools, and even a little about politics. That J Dilla spent most of his life in Detroit even when his talent called him frequently to New York and Los Angeles was a telling part of who he was. ( )